Shrub rose plant named ‘VLR003’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant, referred to by its cultivar name, ‘VLR003’, is described. The new variety forms on a continuous basis attractive, yellow-colored double flowers from spring to fall. The growth habit is semi-upright compact bush. Attractive semi-glossy, dark green foliage is formed. The new variety is cold hardy. Additionally, the new variety is particularly well suited for growing as distinctive ornamentation in the landscape.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Rosa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘VLR003’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Plant Breeders' Right ApplicationNumber 21-10444, which was filed in Canada on Mar. 8, 2021, the contentsof which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of shrub rose plant of the present invention was createdby controlled breeding in May 2011 in Vineland Station, Ontario, Canadaby artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed whichpreviously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute tothe desired traits. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) of the newvariety was ‘BAline’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,659). The male parent(i.e., the pollen parent) of the new variety was ‘282’ (non-patented).

The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows:‘BAline’ × ‘282’

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of asingle plant of the new variety.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation atVineland Station, Ontario, Canada by vegetative cuttings. Asexualpropagation techniques in Vineland Station, Ontario, Canada, such asvegetative cuttings, have shown that the characteristics of the newvariety are homogeneous, stable, and strictly transmissible by suchasexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the newvariety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It was found that the new variety of shrub rose plant of the presentinvention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) continuously forms attractive, yellow-colored double petal        flowers,    -   (b) exhibits a semi-upright compact bush growth habit, and    -   (c) forms attractive ornamental semi-glossy, dark green colored        foliage.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. Itcan be grown to advantage as attractive ornamentation in parks, gardens,public areas, and residential landscapes. Accordingly, it isparticularly well suited for growing in the landscape.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. Morespecifically, ‘BAline’ (i.e., the seed parent) displays more petals perflower (approximately 32 petals on average) compared to the new variety(approximately 17 petals on average). Additionally, ‘282’ (i.e., thepollen parent) displays less petals per flower (approximately 11 petalson average) compared to the new variety (approximately 17 petals onaverage). Moreover, the new variety can be readily distinguished fromnon-parental related similar varieties. For example, ‘KORfizzlem’ (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 24,195) displays less petals, exhibits larger leaflets,and is a larger plant compared to the new variety.

The new variety has been named ‘VLR003’. The trademark name for the newvariety is YUKON SUN™.

The new variety has not been sold or offered for sale as of March 2022.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in a color illustration of this character,typical specimens of the new variety. The illustrated rose plants of thenew variety were approximately two-years-old and were grown outdoorsduring the spring and summer of 2020 and 2021 in three-gallon containerson their own roots at Vineland Station, Ontario, Canada.

FIG. 1 —illustrates a specimen of an opened flower.

FIG. 2 —illustrates a specimen of a 5-leaflet leaf.

FIG. 3 —illustrates specimen of young shoots.

FIG. 4 —illustrates specimen of hips.

FIG. 5 —Illustrates a specimen of the plant displaying opened flowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart, 2007 edition). Theterminology which precedes reference to the chart has been added toindicate the corresponding color in more common terms. The descriptionis based on a two-years-old specimen of the new variety, observed duringAugust, while growing on its own roots outdoors in a three-galloncontainer in Vineland Station, Ontario, Canada.

-   Botanical classification: Rosa hybrida cultivar VLR003.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately up to 86.0 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately up to 83.0 cm.        -   Habit.—Semi-upright, compact, bush.-   Branches:    -   -   Stem color.—Old wood: commonly near Greyed-Orange Group            177B. Young stems: commonly near Green Group 138B.        -   Length.—Main stems: approximately 81.0 cm on average.            Secondary stems: approximately 64.0 cm on average.        -   Diameter.—Main stems: approximately 8.6 mm on average.            Secondary stems: approximately 5.4 mm on average.        -   Thorns.—Amount: approximately 3.5 per internode. Young            thorns: length is approximately 9.0 mm on average; width is            approximately 4.0 mm at base; color is commonly near            Red-Purple Group 63C. Old thorns: length is approximately            11.0 mm on average, width is approximately 4.0 mm at base;            color is commonly near Greyed-Orange Group 167D.        -   Young shoots.—Anthocyanin coloration: commonly near            Greyed-Purple Group 187C.-   Leaflets:    -   -   Number.—Predominantly 5.        -   Shape.—Elliptic; apex shape is acute; base shape is obtuse.        -   Margin.—Serrate with sub-teeth.        -   Undulation.—Intensity of margin undulation is moderate.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: smooth. Under surface: smooth.        -   Intensity of glossiness of upper surface.—Medium.        -   Size.—Terminal leaflet: length is approximately 5.1 cm on            average; width is approximately 3.3 cm on average. Lower            leaflets: length is approximately 3.8 cm on average; width            is approximately 2.8 cm on average. 5-Leaflet leaf: length            is approximately 10.2 cm on average; width is approximately            8.1 cm on average.-   Foliage:    -   -   Young foliage.—Upper surface color: commonly near Orange-Red            Group N34A. Under surface color: commonly near Green Group            138B.        -   Mature foliage.—Upper surface color: commonly near Green            Group N137B. Under surface color: commonly near Green Group            138B.        -   Venation.—Pattern: cross-venulate. Color: upper and under            surfaces are commonly near Green Group 138B.        -   Petiole.—Texture: upper surface is rough; under surface is            rough. Length: approximately 21.0 mm on average. Diameter:            approximately 1.3 mm on average. Upper surface color:            commonly near Green Group 138A. Under surface color:            commonly near Green Group 138B.        -   Petiolule.—Length: approximately 2.0 mm on average.            Diameter: approximately 1.25 mm on average. Texture: hairy.            Color: commonly near Green Group 138B.        -   Rachis.—Diameter: approximately 2.2 mm on average. Texture:            smooth. Color: commonly near Green Group 138C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Number of flowers.—About 130 blooms on average on a plant at            once.        -   Number of blossoms per stem or in a cluster.—Typically, 1            bloom on average.        -   Blooming season.—Typically, in bloom outdoors from June to            October in Vineland Station, Ontario, Canada.        -   Peduncle.—Color: commonly near Green Group 138B. Width:            approximately 2.0 mm on average. Length: approximately 2.9            cm on average. Texture: smooth.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Upper surface color: commonly near Green            Group 143C. Under surface color: commonly near Green Group            143A. Size: length is approximately 1.6 cm on average; width            is approximately 5.0 mm on average. Shape: lanceolate; apex            is acicular. Margin: ciliate. Texture: hairy.        -   Buds.—Shape: elliptical. Size: length is approximately 2.0            cm on average; width is approximately 9.0 mm on average.            Color: commonly near Green Group 138B.        -   Flower.—Type: double. Diameter: approximately 7.5 cm on            average. Depth: approximately 2.6 cm on average. Duration:            on the plant approximately 4 days. Petal color when opening:            upper surface is commonly near Yellow Group 10A; under            surface is commonly near Yellow Group 10A. Petal color when            fully open: upper surface is commonly near Yellow Group 8B;            under surface is commonly near Yellow Group 8B.        -   Fragrance.—Mild.        -   Petal.—Number 17. Drop: good, clean. Shape: obovate; apex is            obtuse; base is acute. Margin: undulate. Texture: smooth.        -   Stamen.—Number: approximately 56. Anthers: color is commonly            near Orange Group 24B; length is approximately 1.8 mm; width            is approximately 0.8 mm; shape is sagittate. Filaments:            length is approximately 9.0 mm on average; diameter is            approximately 0.28 mm; color is commonly near Yellow-Orange            Group 14B.        -   Pistils.—Number: approximately 41. Style: length is            approximately 4.0 mm; diameter is approximately 0.35 mm;            color is commonly near Red-Purple Group 59C. Stigma: length            is approximately 0.9 mm; width is approximately 0.7 mm;            shape is irregular round; color is commonly near            Yellow-Orange Group 23B.        -   Receptacle.—Size: length is approximately 9.0 mm; width is            approximately 7.0 mm. Shape: pitcher shaped. Color: commonly            near Green Group 138B.        -   Pollen.—Color: commonly near Yellow-Orange Group 16D.            Amount: good.        -   Hips.—Color: commonly near Orange Group 25B. Diameter:            approximately 13.0 mm.        -   Seeds.—Color: commonly near Yellow Group 11D. Diameter:            approximately 3.0 mm.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Semi-glossy and dark green.        -   Blossoming.—Continuous from spring to fall.        -   Resistance to diseases.—Good resistance to black spot            disease caused by Diplocarpon rosae.        -   Hardiness.—Cold hardy to USDA Zone 4A.

The new ‘VLR003’ variety has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that thephenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensityand duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant named‘VLR003’ characterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) continuously forms attractive, yellow-colored double petal flowers,(b) exhibits a semi-upright compact bush growth habit, and (c) formsattractive ornamental semi-glossy, dark green colored foliage;substantially as herein shown and described.